Aranmula Snake Boat Race

Day 01 : Arrive Chennai

Upon arrival in Chennai meeting and assistance followed by transfer to hotel. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Chennai, the Capital city of Tamil Nadu state, Chennai is India 's Southern Gateway city and one of the biggest centres of trade, and communications.

Day 02 : Chennai

Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for half day city tour of Chennai visits the Santhome Cathedral Church , St. Thomas Mount and Fort St. George. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 : Chennai - Pondichery

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Pondichery. On arrival check-in at hotel. Later sightseeing tour of Pondichery. Overnight stay at hotel.

Pondichery - a former French colony oozes a Mediterranean aura with classy streets, stylish houses and ornamental gardens, is famous for pleasant weather and easy paced life. Visit the serene atmosphere of Aurobindo Ashram, which was founded by Sri Aurobindo in 1926 and has attained international reputation for its spiritual tenets including yoga and modern science of living. The Botanical Gardens, conceived in 1826, boast a variety of rare and exotic plants from India and abroad, and take a stroll on the beaches of Pondichery.

Day 04 : Pondichery - Tanjore

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Tanjore, enroute visiting Chidambaram & Kumbakonam. Chidambaram - situated between two rivers in a 40 acre temple - complex, lies the temples of Chidambaram, one of the oldest, most venerated and magnificent temples of South India . Shiva Natraja or the Dancing Shiva stand in his cosmic dance pose in the golden rooted sanctum sanctorum. Flanking the temple are 108 sculptured illustrations of Bharat Natya Shastra. In Akash Lingam hidden by a veil, lies the real secret of Chidambaram. Kumbakonam is a very important Temple City of South India. Kumbakonam is one of the Oldest Towns in Tamil nadu and is famous for its Mahamaham festival. In the 7th Century it was the Capital of Chola Kings. Visit the Kumbeshwaran Temple . Upon arrival in Tanjore check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05 : Tanjore - Trichi - Madurai

Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for morning city tour of Tanjore visit the beautiful Chola Temple of Brihadeeshwara. The temple is capped by a monolithic cupola made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons, which was taken to the top with the help of a 6 kms long ramp, an old technique used by the Egyptians for building pyramids. Its bronzes and handicrafts make Tanjore one of the highlights of a visit to South India . Afternoon drive to Madurai, en route visiting Srirangam Fort at Trichy, located on an island 5 kms from Trichy, is Srirangam. Surrounded by the Kaveri river is a 600 acre island town enclosed within the seven walls of the gigantic Sri Ranganathaswami temple. There are no less than 22 Gopurams, one of which is the tallest in India . The 72 m high 13-tiered gopuram dominates the landscape for miles around. The Rock Fort situated on the banks of the Kaveri River , Trichy's most famed landmark is an 84 m high rock, one of the oldest in the world approx. 3,800 million years old. The attraction is not for the fort itself but the temple at the summit. 344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where are the inscriptions dating back to the 3rd century B.C. Later continue your drive to Madurai. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06 : Madurai

Breakfast at the hotel and proceed for city tour of Madurai Known as Athens of the East, Madurai is the second largest city on the banks of the River Vaigai. The city is believed to be more than 2500 years old. The city got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from Shiva's locks when he came to bless its people for constructing a temple for him. Madurai where the people wake up to the chant of hymns is proud of the magnificent Meenakshi-Sundareswara Temple . Of its 12 gopurams, four of the tallest stand at the outer walls of the temple. The 48.8 m high southern gopuram is the most spectacular and has over 1500 sculptures. In the Ashta Shakti Mandapam inside the Meenakshi temple, the sculpted pillars tell the story of the beautiful princess of Madurai and her marriage to Lord Shiva. Evening witness the Night ceremony at the Madura Meenakshi Temple . Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07 : Madurai - Periyar

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Periyar. On arrival check-in at hotel. Pm boat cruise on Lake Periyar. Overnight stay at hotel.

Periyar sanctuary spread over an area of 777 sq km, has about 35 tigers and leopards. However, sighting a tiger in Periyar is a rare occurrence. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes, which can be seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise. Periyar, otherwise, blessed by Nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations and has lush green hills.

Day 08 : Periyar - Cochin

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Cochin. On arrival in Cochin check-in at hotel. Pm city tour of Cochin - an important port city with a famous Jewish settlement and Synagogue, the Dutch Palace , the Chinese Nets, the Church of St Francis and the Tomb of Vasco da Gama. We will also include a visit to a School in Cochin during your sightseeing tour to show you and explain how the education system prevails in India. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09 : Cochin - Quilon

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Quilon. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel. Quilon an old seaport town on the southwestern Arabian Sea coastline of India . A great trade center of Kerala, the city has changed its name frequently and was known as Kollam and Quilon at various points of time. A must if you travel to Kerala, Quilon stands along the Ashtamudi Lake and is a major attraction for its elegance and architectural beauty.

Day 10 : Quilon

Breakfast at the hotel. Later proceed to the Lake side to witness the spectacular Aranmula Boat Race and the cultural activities arranged for this event. Overnight stay at hotel.

Aranmula Boat Race or Aranmula Vallamkali is a grand and exuberant procession of snake boats conducted on the Uthrattathi asterism in the Malayalam month Chingam. Originally, in olden days the procession of snake boats was to carry vegetables and cereals to the Parthasarathy temple at Aranmula where a grand onam feast is held. But with the advent of time the procession grew in grandeur so much so that it now belittles the grandeur of its purpose-the grand feast at the temple. The celebration spans five days and the procession is held on the fifth day (Uthrittathi asterism) when the snake boats assemble near Sree Parthasarathy Temple before the grand procession. Each boat is about 100 feet long and accommodates about 4 helmsmen, 100 oarsmen and 25 singers. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and shouting,

Day 11 : Quilon - Kovalam

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Kovalam. On arrival check-in at hotel. Afetnoon relax on beach. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 12 : Kovalam

Breakfast at the hotel. Rest of the day free for relax. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13 : Kovalam - Trivandrum Depart

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Trivandrum. On arrival in Trivandrum drop you at airport or railway station to catch flight/train for onward destination.